AS lockdown measures have stagnated the local Port Stephens economy and left hundreds of community members jobless NSW Labor has called on the Berejiklian Coalition to finally build Medowie’s State High School.

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Member for Port Stephens and Shadow Minister for Education Kate Washington was joined by NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay at the site of the proposed school development to urge the LNP to not only assist in local education, but to help create jobs in the area.

Both Ms Washington and Ms McKay want to see investment return to regional NSW and see the building of a High School as a double-edged measure to bolster much needed education resources and get the economy ticking over.

“What we’re saying to the Gladys Berejiklian Government is that this school is not only long overdue for the residents here in Medowie, it will also ensure jobs in the Port Stephens area,” said Ms Washington.

“We have over a 1000 new dwellings currently being developed in this area and we desperately need a High School to support those families already here and those who will be moving here in the future.

“The Department of Education already owns the land and have so since the 1980s, what we’re saying is that now is the perfect time to create jobs and support the future education of our youth.”

Ms McKay supported Ms Washington calls not only for a new High School but added it’s important to use the already available resources in NSW to get the economy going again.

“Not only do we need to see this High School go ahead for education purposes, we want to see it create new opportunities for jobs and existing NSW services,” said Ms McKay.

“Let’s build with NSW materials, employ locally and give the young people of this region the educational support they need.”

Local mother Marnie Coates has two children at Medowie Primary and says that she doesn’t want to force her kids to travel over two hours a day when a local option could be available.

“The kids already do a long day now and potentially they’ve got an hour or more travelling each way to get to school,” said Mrs Coates.

“It doesn’t leave time for them to get home, to do extracurricular activities or get their homework done, or just have family time.

“Medowie’s population is going through a boom, we need this High School now.”

By Mitch LEES